The Most UNHINGED Thing Trump Has Said About the Iran War Yet

Scott Galloway and Jessica Tarlov open Thursday with the Michigan Senate race, where Republican nominee Mike Rogers has released a new ad declaring that Canada is "not our enemy" and calling for an end to the tariffs — a sharp reversal from his position just weeks ago when he called those same tariffs "necessary." Rogers is now trailing Abdul El-Sayed in a race that could decide overall Senate control. Is this enough to convince Michigan voters — or is the flip too late and too transparent? Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made a trip to San Diego this week to welcome home the USS Abraham Lincoln, working out with Marines in a clip that went viral. The visit comes after Hegseth dismissed reports of food shortages and crew fatigue during the Iran war deployment as "completely misrepresented." Could this election’s October surprise be military action in Iran?  Iowa Democratic candidate Rob Sand heads into the final stretch of the governor's race with a double-digit lead: a new poll has him at 55% to Republican Zach Lahn's 43%, with Kalshi giving Sand an 89% chance of winning. The two met in a debate this week and things quickly got heated — with Sand accusing his opponent of not really living in Iowa. Scott and Jess break down how the Sand campaign is running — and what a Democratic flip in Iowa would mean for the national map. Fox News just turned 30 years old — and its ratings dominance has never been stronger, with the network averaging 1.69 million total-day viewers in 2025, compared with 551,000 for MSNOW and 432,000 for CNN. Fox News now captures over 50% of the total cable news audience. Should more Democrats follow Jess's lead and engage with the network? And finally: a wave of movies about tech CEO is hitting theaters: Aaron Sorkin’s The Social Reckoning drops Friday — about Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg, a Sam Altman biopic starring Andrew Garfield just premiered, Alex Gibney’s Elon Musk documentary premiered at Venice, and A24’s much-anticipated Elizabeth Holmes film called You Can See Everything is on the way. Is Hollywood just out of original ideas — or is the timing of all these releases saying something about where the culture is right now? For ad-free episodes, exclusive livestreams, and to connect with Scott, Jessica, and the Raging Moderates community, join us at ProfG+ on Substack: https://ragingmoderates.profgmedia.com/ Get The Monday Rage newsletter: https://profgmedia.com/s/monday-rage/ Follow Raging Moderates on IG, Tiktok, and Facebook: https://www.instagram.com/ragingmoderatespod/ https://www.tiktok.com/@ragingmoderates https://www.facebook.com/ragingmoderates Follow Jessica Tarlov on Instagram, Substack, and Bluesky: https://instagram.com/jessicatarlov https://substack.com/@jessietarlov https://bsky.app/profile/jessicatarlov.bsky.social Follow Scott on Instagram, Substack, and Bluesky: https://instagram.com/profgalloway https://substack.com/@profgalloway https://bsky.app/profile/profgalloway.com Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@RagingModerates Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jessica Tarlov and Aaron Parnas are back for Raging Perspective with three weeks until the midterms. Trump is teasing a "midterm surprise" that he says could make history — hinting that OMB Director and Project 2025 architect Russell Vought is behind a major announcement coming in the next few weeks. This comes as 42% of Trump's 2024 Latino voters now say they're disappointed or regret their vote. Aaron breaks down what the surprise might be, voter dynamics heading into the final stretch, and his concerns about the possibilities of AI-generated content impacting the election. France is in its third week of escalating student protests over the state of public schools. Yesterday's demonstrations were among the most violent yet — the Prime Minister has suspended high school classes for the rest of the week, and police have fired tear gas and water cannons at students blockading schools. Any takeaways for American politics? The first of four Maine Senate debates in just ten days took place last night. Republican incumbent Sen. Susan Collins and Democrat Troy Jackson went head to head on immigration, tariffs, and rising fuel costs. Aaron scores the debate and previews what he thinks might happen in November. Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed is now distancing himself from Hasan Piker after campaigning with the controversial streamer throughout the primary — reportedly calling Piker directly and warning that his rhetoric was costing votes, asking him to tone it down. Smart move or too late? New leaked audio from a Ken Paxton fundraiser has the Republican Senate nominee blaming the Iran war and rising gas prices for his campaign's struggles in Texas — telling donors that affordability is "by far our biggest problem" and admitting "I don't make the decisions." Is Paxton already playing the blame game? And finally: Christian YouTuber Gabe Poirot went viral on Fox News for describing his 18 days in heaven during a coma after a 2021 skateboard crash, including his experience meeting Jesus. Aaron and Jess react. Plus, questions from the audience. To see Raging Perspective LIVE, and to get ad-free episodes of Raging Moderates and all the other Prof G shows: join ProfG+ on Substack: https://ragingmoderates.profgmedia.com/ Get The Monday Rage newsletter: https://profgmedia.com/s/monday-rage/ Follow Jessica Tarlov on Instagram, Substack, and Bluesky: https://instagram.com/jessicatarlov https://substack.com/@jessietarlov https://bsky.app/profile/jessicatarlov.bsky.social Follow Aaron Parnas on Substack, TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube: https://aaronparnas.substack.com/ https://www.tiktok.com/@aaronparnas1/ https://instagram.com/aaronparnas/ https://www.youtube.com/@aaronparnas1 Follow Raging Moderates on IG, Tiktok, and Facebook: https://www.instagram.com/ragingmoderatespod/ https://www.tiktok.com/@ragingmoderates https://www.facebook.com/ragingmoderates Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@RagingModerates Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get your copy of I Disagree — the new book by Jessica Tarlov! Scott Galloway and Jessica Tarlov open Tuesday with Trump's Nebraska rally — where the president made shocking comments about the Iran war that immediately drew national attention and outrage. Trump also mentioned one of his favorite topics — our own Jessica Tarlov. At the same event, Trump unveiled a new executive order aimed at lowering diesel prices. Will this be enough to sway farmers and other Republicans hit hard by soaring diesel prices — or does it fall short of what the inflation-frustrated base actually needs? Trump's MAGA Inc. Super PAC has now agreed to pay for the repurposed Trump campaign ads that have been airing nationwide, which had been marked as paid for with taxpayer money — more than $10 million worth of ads on cable and network TV since September. Is this a rare admission of defeat, or damage control? The main Democratic Senate Super PAC has been ramping up Epstein-related attack ads, with AdImpact counting 69 Epstein ads this cycle worth more than $36.6 million. New polling shows 44% of voters see Epstein as a serious campaign issue. Scott and Jess debate whether this is a smart closing-month strategy or a risky one for Democrats. The Cornell Seven case is now sparking protests on campus. Thousands of students and faculty rallied at Cornell last night in response to the lawsuit over the school's handling of a 2024 sexual assault allegation. Attendees marched to university president Michael Kotlikoff's office, demanding his resignation and a ban on fraternities. Is this fundamentally a university management issue, a criminal justice issue — or both? And finally: a measles outbreak is spreading across the Northeast. Pennsylvania has surpassed one thousand cases this year, and New York has declared a state of emergency, expanding vaccine access as health officials scramble to contain the spread. How serious is this — and what does it say about the public health infrastructure under RFK? For ad-free episodes, exclusive livestreams, and to connect with Scott, Jessica, and the Raging Moderates community, join us at ProfG+ on Substack: https://ragingmoderates.profgmedia.com/ Get The Monday Rage newsletter: https://profgmedia.com/s/monday-rage/ Follow Raging Moderates on IG, Tiktok, and Facebook: https://www.instagram.com/ragingmoderatespod/ https://www.tiktok.com/@ragingmoderates https://www.facebook.com/ragingmoderates Follow Jessica Tarlov on Instagram, Substack, and Bluesky: https://instagram.com/jessicatarlov https://substack.com/@jessietarlov https://bsky.app/profile/jessicatarlov.bsky.social Follow Scott on Instagram, Substack, and Bluesky: https://instagram.com/profgalloway https://substack.com/@profgalloway https://bsky.app/profile/profgalloway.com Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@RagingModerates Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Scott Galloway and Jessica Tarlov open the final month before the midterms with the big picture: Kalshi has Democrats at 64% to win majorities in both the House and Senate, and new polling shows Democrats leading gubernatorial races in Republican-held states including Iowa, Ohio, and even Texas. Trump has been out rallying — promising "nearly $100" to 20 million seniors on Medicare, and teasing a "big surprise" in November. Is the momentum firmly behind Democrats — and what exactly is $100 supposed to do for seniors? Scott adds just how bad an idea it is to hand out money that creates more debt for the country and the next generation of Americans.  The Iran war just reached British soil. The U.S. has abruptly pulled all B-1 bombers from a UK air base after commanders received urgent intelligence about an Iran-backed plot against the facility. British police had already arrested five men in vans near the base — later released on bail but still under investigation — and a dual British-Iranian national was separately arrested on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts. How serious are these threats — and does this change the calculus of the Iran conflict? On Friday, Sen. Bernie Sanders, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Sen. Jeff Merkley introduced the Ban Flock Act — a bill that would bar federal agencies from using automated license plate readers and cut off federal grant funding to state and local governments with contracts for the technology. The same night, Sanders and AOC made a surprise appearance to introduce rock band The Strokes before about 40,000 fans in Queens. Are Bernie and AOC giving the people what they want — and will Bernie continue to be a major presence heading into 2028? A new Supreme Court term begins today, with major cases on the docket including proof-of-citizenship requirements for voter registration, and the Trump administration's policy of detaining noncitizens without bond hearings. Justice Alito says he considered retiring this year but will revisit the decision in 2027. What does this mean for Republicans hoping to replace him with another conservative — and what happens if Democrats take back the Senate before he makes his exit? And finally: a mysterious illness at a Russian laboratory that studies some of the world's deadliest pathogens has sparked a health scare. A 28-year-old lab technician has died from pneumonia of unknown origin, dozens of people are reportedly in isolation, and Russia's top infectious disease official has reportedly rushed to the region. What do we know? For ad-free episodes, exclusive livestreams, and to connect with Scott, Jessica, and the Raging Moderates community, join us at ProfG+ on Substack: https://ragingmoderates.profgmedia.com/ Get The Monday Rage newsletter: https://profgmedia.com/s/monday-rage/ Follow Raging Moderates on IG, Tiktok, and Facebook: https://www.instagram.com/ragingmoderatespod/ https://www.tiktok.com/@ragingmoderates https://www.facebook.com/ragingmoderates Follow Jessica Tarlov on Instagram, Substack, and Bluesky: https://instagram.com/jessicatarlov https://substack.com/@jessietarlov https://bsky.app/profile/jessicatarlov.bsky.social Follow Scott on Instagram, Substack, and Bluesky: https://instagram.com/profgalloway https://substack.com/@profgalloway https://bsky.app/profile/profgalloway.com Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@RagingModerates Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Scott Galloway and Jessica Tarlov open Thursday with the escalating trade war, now being waged on multiple fronts simultaneously. Trump's outright ban on select Canadian goods — including alcoholic beverages — went into effect earlier this week, after Trump called Canada "one of the worst countries in the entire world." For the third time in under two years, courts have been asked to rule on Trump's tariffs — this latest challenge covering over 99% of U.S. imports. Jess and Scott break down the legal challenge, why Trump keeps trying despite repeated court losses, and what the constant legal uncertainty does to companies and consumers trying to operate in the U.S.  Meanwhile, the EU and Canada are reportedly planning to announce a sweeping new partnership at the end of October, covering digital trade, critical minerals stockpiling, and more — a direct response to Trump's trade war. Is this a winning strategy? Yesterday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth used his "State of the Force" address at Quantico to announce a new autonomous warfare command, a 20% cut to general and admiral positions, and "Project Meridian" — a new initiative to be led by Elon Musk, Palmer Luckey, and Newt Gingrich. Hegseth also called press coverage of the Iran war "treason." Then they discuss the dramatic incident aboard a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, where a co-pilot allegedly stabbed the captain and attempted to crash the plane carrying mostly Israeli passengers. The aircraft plunged nearly 14,000 feet in under 30 seconds before passengers and crew apparently fought their way into the cockpit and subdued the co-pilot. The flight landed safely in Saudi Arabia, where the co-pilot is now in custody. The airline says the motive is still under investigation. Is this a terrorism case — or is it too early to say? Finally, the candidates for California governor faced off in a debate last night. Xavier Becerra and Steve Hilton squared off on taxes, immigration, and Hilton's relationship with Trump in a state that is also one of the world's largest economies. Kalshi has Becerra at 96% likely to win in November. What does this race tell us about broader national dynamics? For ad-free episodes, exclusive livestreams, and to connect with Scott, Jessica, and the Raging Moderates community, join us at ProfG+ on Substack: https://ragingmoderates.profgmedia.com/ Get The Monday Rage newsletter: https://profgmedia.com/s/monday-rage/ Follow Raging Moderates on IG, Tiktok, and Facebook: https://www.instagram.com/ragingmoderatespod/ https://www.tiktok.com/@ragingmoderates https://www.facebook.com/ragingmoderates Follow Jessica Tarlov on Instagram, Substack, and Bluesky: https://instagram.com/jessicatarlov https://substack.com/@jessietarlov https://bsky.app/profile/jessicatarlov.bsky.social Follow Scott on Instagram, Substack, and Bluesky: https://instagram.com/profgalloway https://substack.com/@profgalloway https://bsky.app/profile/profgalloway.com Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@RagingModerates Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jessica's book I Disagree: Winning Arguments Without Losing Friends is out now — pick it up here: https://sites.prh.com/idisagree Jessica Tarlov and Aaron Parnas are back for Raging Perspective with 35 days until the midterms. They open with a bombshell recording obtained by the New York Times: Ken Paxton, the Republican Senate nominee in Texas and longtime Trump ally, is privately admitting that Trump may be hurting him and other Republicans politically. In the recording, Paxton says his numbers — and everyone else's — dropped after the recent Trump-led GOP “midterm convention” in Dallas. How bad is this for Paxton — and what does it mean for the Texas Senate race? Former special counsel Jack Smith testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee yesterday, as Senate Republicans hoped to secure a public humiliation of Trump’s political enemies. But a moment between Smith and Senator Eric Schmitt (R-MO) went viral — and not for the reasons Republicans wanted. Aaron and Jessica react, with an eye toward the expression on Katie Britt's face. Trump is working overtime to make "superintelligence" a thing. All executive branch departments and agencies are now required to use that phrase instead of "artificial intelligence," a change announced after a White House lunch with AI — or is it SI? — leaders. The tech leaders signed what Trump called a "morally binding" agreement to establish AI safety standards — a one-page, voluntary pact calling for four layers of controls and auditing, including internal monitoring, outside evaluators, and independent board oversight. Aaron breaks down why Trump is doubling down on AI when it's becoming increasingly unpopular. Also, the U.S. launched its own branded AI chatbot: America.gov. Aaron shares what he’s learned from the site so far.  Plus, a quick check in on the situation in Iran, and Jessica and Aaron take listener questions on Texas, immigration hearings, and Kristi Noem’s divorce. To see Raging Perspective LIVE, and to get ad-free episodes of Raging Moderates and all the other Prof G shows: join ProfG+ on Substack: https://ragingmoderates.profgmedia.com/ Get The Monday Rage newsletter: https://profgmedia.com/s/monday-rage/ Follow Jessica Tarlov on Instagram, Substack, and Bluesky: https://instagram.com/jessicatarlov https://substack.com/@jessietarlov https://bsky.app/profile/jessicatarlov.bsky.social Follow Aaron Parnas on Substack, TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube: https://aaronparnas.substack.com/ https://www.tiktok.com/@aaronparnas1/ https://instagram.com/aaronparnas/ https://www.youtube.com/@aaronparnas1 Follow Raging Moderates on IG, Tiktok, and Facebook: https://www.instagram.com/ragingmoderatespod/ https://www.tiktok.com/@ragingmoderates https://www.facebook.com/ragingmoderates Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@RagingModerates Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Scott Galloway and Jessica Tarlov talk about the Iran war's growing economic toll. Trump is once again claiming the U.S. will win in Iran — even as he publicly rejected Tehran's recent offer to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile oil prices have soared to over $100 a barrel, up from $72 in February before the war began. In the bond market, the ten-year Treasury yield is at its highest level in two decades. With Trump now planning to spend the next 30 days campaigning for Republicans in traditionally red states, he'll have to balance political priorities at home with a war that's increasingly hitting Americans in their wallets. The Trump administration's Education Department has officially rescinded the Biden-era interpretation of Title IX that included protections for sexual orientation and gender identity. Education Secretary Linda McMahon says the move will reduce confusion for parents, students, and educational institutions. Does this actually change much on the ground — or is it primarily about optics for a base that views gender as a defining issue? A new lawsuit has put the “Cornell Seven” back in the spotlight. A former Cornell student alleges she was drugged and sexually assaulted by seven fraternity members in 2024. Prosecutors initially declined to file charges but have now reopened the investigation and are seeking a grand jury review. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Ortez (D-NY) weighed in publicly. Where does the case go from here? In Los Angeles, new polling shows in the mayoral race shows Democratic Socialist city councilmember Nithya Raman leading the incumbent mayor Karen Bass by 11 points — a dramatic reversal from the June primary when Bass finished five points ahead of Raman. 63% of likely voters view Bass unfavorably, with majorities panning her response to the Palisades Fire. Raman is dominating among younger voters, and Kalshi currently has her odds of winning at 57%. How did Raman pull off this turnaround — and will the race tighten before November, or will another of America’s largest and most Democratic cities be led by a DSA member? For ad-free episodes, exclusive livestreams, and to connect with Scott, Jessica, and the Raging Moderates community, join us at ProfG+ on Substack: https://ragingmoderates.profgmedia.com/ Get The Monday Rage newsletter: https://profgmedia.com/s/monday-rage/ Follow Raging Moderates on IG, Tiktok, and Facebook: https://www.instagram.com/ragingmoderatespod/ https://www.tiktok.com/@ragingmoderates https://www.facebook.com/ragingmoderates Follow Jessica Tarlov on Instagram, Substack, and Bluesky: https://instagram.com/jessicatarlov https://substack.com/@jessietarlov https://bsky.app/profile/jessicatarlov.bsky.social Follow Scott on Instagram, Substack, and Bluesky: https://instagram.com/profgalloway https://substack.com/@profgalloway https://bsky.app/profile/profgalloway.com Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@RagingModerates Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Scott Galloway and Jessica Tarlov open the week with the Canada trade war entering a new phase: outright bans on Canadian goods including alcoholic beverages, motorcycles, and whey kick in tomorrow. Unlike the earlier tariffs, these bans may not hit the Canadian economy as hard — so what's the intended effect, and does Canada have any reason to come to the table?Meanwhile, Dan Scavino and other notable Republicans are posting AI-generated videos online at a moment when Americans are increasingly worried about AI. Is that helping Republicans — or hurting them? Trump hosted Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei for dinner on Sunday night, after an appeals court ruling that the Trump administration could block Anthropic from Pentagon contracts. They also discuss Trump’s Oval Office announcement today about a new steel plant being built in Iowa. Scott and Jess talk about what kind of political posturing is going on, and why these moves will do little to make real change in the economy.  Over the weekend, Trump 2024 campaign ads re-aired during SNL and NFL broadcasts — but this time, stamped with "Paid for by the U.S. Government.” Ethics lawyers and politicians are objecting to the use of taxpayer money for what are effectively partisan campaign materials.  In the tech world: Palantir co-founder Peter Thiel has made a public case for why being evil… isn't all that bad. What does it say that a member of the tech billionaire class is willing to say this out loud? For ad-free episodes, exclusive livestreams, and to connect with Scott, Jessica, and the Raging Moderates community, join us at ProfG+ on Substack: https://ragingmoderates.profgmedia.com/ Get The Monday Rage newsletter: https://profgmedia.com/s/monday-rage/ Follow Raging Moderates on IG, Tiktok, and Facebook: https://www.instagram.com/ragingmoderatespod/ https://www.tiktok.com/@ragingmoderates https://www.facebook.com/ragingmoderates Follow Jessica Tarlov on Instagram, Substack, and Bluesky: https://instagram.com/jessicatarlov https://substack.com/@jessietarlov https://bsky.app/profile/jessicatarlov.bsky.social Follow Scott on Instagram, Substack, and Bluesky: https://instagram.com/profgalloway https://substack.com/@profgalloway https://bsky.app/profile/profgalloway.com Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@RagingModerates Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jessica Tarlov and Aaron Parnas are back for Raging Perspective with 39 days until the midterms. Jessica’s new book I DISAGREE is available now! Get your copy: https://sites.prh.com/idisagree With mortgage rates hitting 7%, diesel prices at historic highs, and gas up 27% year-on-year, the affordability crisis is now front and center in the final stretch — and a growing number of Republicans, including Senate hopefuls in Michigan and Iowa, are publicly breaking with Trump over the Iran war, rising prices, immigration operations, and the questions around funding for Don Jr.'s wedding after-party. Aaron and Jessica debate whether voters will actually buy a last-minute pivot from candidates who followed Trump blindly for years.The Supreme Court has also just cleared the Trump administration to use sensitive federal data to help states identify people deemed ineligible to vote; Aaron and Jess discuss the possible impacts and why this ruling isn’t that surprising. Days after banning CNN, Politico, and MSNOW from the White House, the administration launched "Trump TV" — a 24/7 YouTube stream drawing comparisons to state media in China and North Korea, with tiny ratings so far. A federal court ordered Trump to reverse the press ban, and reporters from the three outlets were allowed back into the White House yesterday — but CNN and MSNOW were then denied access to cover guest arrivals at the Xi state dinner the same night. Where does press freedom go from here? On the Xi state dinner itself: protesters were outside, tech CEOs filled the room, and Trump asked guests if anyone wanted to see the ballroom construction. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has revealed he has considered the remote possibility of a U.S. invasion, following the escalation of Trump's trade war and increasing hostility from Washington. What does it say that the leader of America's closest neighbor is speaking about this publicly? AOC told the New York Times this week that she'll decide after the midterms whether to run for president in 2028 — and that she's aware being a Latina woman could impact her electability. Aaron breaks down the interview, and outlines her potential options.  And finally: Illinois Governor JB Pritzker publicly revealed this week that he's lost 80 pounds on a GLP-1 medication. They discuss the buzz around Pritzker’s presidential ambitions and the general chances for state governors. PLUS: Jess and Aaron take listener questions. To see Raging Perspective LIVE, and to get ad-free episodes of Raging Moderates and all the other Prof G shows: join ProfG+ on Substack: https://ragingmoderates.profgmedia.com/ Get The Monday Rage newsletter: https://profgmedia.com/s/monday-rage/ Follow Jessica Tarlov on Instagram, Substack, and Bluesky: https://instagram.com/jessicatarlov https://substack.com/@jessietarlov https://bsky.app/profile/jessicatarlov.bsky.social Follow Aaron Parnas on Substack, TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube: https://aaronparnas.substack.com/ https://www.tiktok.com/@aaronparnas1/ https://instagram.com/aaronparnas/ https://www.youtube.com/@aaronparnas1 Follow Raging Moderates on IG, Tiktok, and Facebook: https://www.instagram.com/ragingmoderatespod/ https://www.tiktok.com/@ragingmoderates https://www.facebook.com/ragingmoderates Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@RagingModerates Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Scott Galloway is joined today by Alice Han for a deep dive into one of the most consequential diplomatic events of Trump's second term: Chinese President Xi Jinping's first state visit to the United States in nearly a decade. Trump personally welcomed Xi at Andrews Air Force Base — the first U.S. president since JFK to receive a foreign counterpart there — rolling out the full diplomatic spectacle of a state dinner and red carpet welcome. Ahead of Xi's arrival, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced that the U.S. and China have extended their trade truce until January.But underneath the pageantry are much more consequential questions. Alice gives her high-level read on the summit: what Xi actually came to Washington to get, what Trump was looking for, and how much the balance of power between the two countries has shifted since Trump's first term — when China has since become a major player in AI, EVs, robotics, chips, and space. They also talk through international relations and the balance of power not just between the two superpowers, but how Taiwan, Iran, and Ukraine are impacting their relationship.  On AI: Bernie Sanders introduced a bill this week to ban artificial superintelligence and establish a Cabinet-level agency to regulate it. The U.S. and China are competing intensely to lead the technology, but both governments are also increasingly alarmed by what these systems can do. Can the two countries cooperate on AI safety while remaining fierce competitors everywhere else? On trade: the two-month truce extension buys time — but what does each country actually need from a longer-term deal, and what are the real sticking points? Trump’s press ban fallout also reached the summit itself: a federal judge ordered the White House to restore access for CNN, MSNOW, and Politico, calling the ban likely unconstitutional. Major TV networks also declined to film Xi's arrival. Alice breaks down how that dynamic — an American president fighting his own press at a state visit — lands in Beijing. And with AOC teasing a 2028 run, JB Pritzker sharing his weight loss journey, and Kamala Harris campaigning with Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan, Alice also weighs in on how China is thinking about the 2028 elections and what a new political era in America might mean for the relationship. Finally: looking five to ten years out, is the U.S.-China relationship heading toward a managed rivalry with agreed rules of the road — or into a period of much more intense competition? For ad-free episodes, exclusive livestreams, and to connect with Scott, Jessica, and the Raging Moderates community, join us at ProfG+ on Substack: https://ragingmoderates.profgmedia.com/ Get The Monday Rage newsletter: https://profgmedia.com/s/monday-rage/ Follow Raging Moderates on IG, Tiktok, and Facebook: https://www.instagram.com/ragingmoderatespod/ https://www.tiktok.com/@ragingmoderates https://www.facebook.com/ragingmoderates Follow Jessica Tarlov on Instagram, Substack, and Bluesky: https://instagram.com/jessicatarlov https://substack.com/@jessietarlov https://bsky.app/profile/jessicatarlov.bsky.social Follow Scott on Instagram, Substack, and Bluesky: https://instagram.com/profgalloway https://substack.com/@profgalloway https://bsky.app/profile/profgalloway.com Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@RagingModerates Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices